Devotional: James 3:13-18
Reflection
- (Jas 3:13 ESV) Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
- (Jas 3:14 ESV) But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
- (Jas 3:15 ESV) This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
- (Jas 3:16 ESV) For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
- (Jas 3:17 ESV) But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
- (Jas 3:18 ESV) And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Discussion
Have you ever read a set of blueprints for a building project? There should be a lot of time, effort, and forethought going into a project to create those plans – with the purpose of those plans being followed during the construction process. What happens to the project when the builders fail to follow the plans that were laid out? Disorder might be something that comes to mind, among other things.
James 3:16 describes two conditions we might be all too familiar with: disorder and every vile practice. This is not talking about the need to clean out your junk drawer and organize your garage. This is the disorder and uselessness in our lives of faith. We were created with a purpose. All of creation was set forth by God with a plan. Sticking to that plan can be tough. Just like the blueprints for a building project, we function best when we are on track for the plans God has created. When we live in opposition to those plans we find disorder, chaos, strife, and a host of other problems that make us both ineffective and unfulfilled.
Connection
How can you determine the plan God has for your life?
Where has God provided direction for living according to His plans?
How can you help encourage others to live according to God’s plans?
What is one thing you need to do this year for the Kingdom?
Expansion
Mankind
God created mankind in His own image with two genders: male and female designed to compliment each in a monogamous marriage unit. At creation the first man and woman were sinless and tasked with tending God’s creation. While Adam and Eve were created to glorify God, they disobeyed launching themselves and all of mankind after them into sinfulness and separation from God. Because of our fallen nature, all of mankind is damned to hell and unable to justify themselves before God without the grace of God providing redemption of their souls through faith in Christ alone.
Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:7, Colossians 1:16, Deuteronomy 6:5, Isaiah 43:6-7, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 5:16, Genesis 3:1-8, Psalm 51:5, Isaiah 6:5, Romans 3:9-23, Romans 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 5:18, 1 Corinthians 15:22